West Coast Swing
History/Definition
Definition 1
Definition by
Kurt Lichtmann
Cornell University, Ithaca NY Swing Dance Faculty, Phys. Ed. Dept
West Coast Swing is the state dance of California. It's origins are definitely in Lindy Hop, but, "you've come a long way, baby!" It's distinctive "dancing in a slot" approach derives from San Diego dancehalls as far back as 1938. The kicking jitterbugs would frolic in the center of the floor, with the smooth dancers grooving on the periphery. Many US Navy personnel seemed to be exploring the smooth style, or were just too drunk to do anything but let the woman go back and forth. Please see Sonny Watson's article on this.
Names: In 1938, the song "Sophisticated Swing" was recorded by several bands, including Woody Herman, and Bunny Berrigan. The song lyrics were about a new dance style. Sophisticated Swing was the first generic name of what became eventually known as West Coast Swing. When Southerners today refer to "Swing," they are not using the term generically: it is their name for West Coast Swing. This is how they distinguish it's similar look from their own regional dance, the Carolina Shag.
Styles: Current WCS styles vary considerably. Modern WCS can be conservatively upright-postured, smooth and warm, or a funky, hot partnered-jazz dance. A bit more self-conscious than the wild abandonment of '40s jitterbug, one of the first generic names for WCS was Sophisticated Swing . The current "Cosmo-girl" approach in which the woman explores her flirtatious sexuality to the max is by no means universal, although it does have historical precedent in the origins of the dance. Same comment on the "I'm just a gigolo" style of some guys. Really, WCS can be quite chaste. However, lots of room for the woman to play is definitely a common characteristic.
Development: When Jitterbug was banned from virtually every serious dance hall in the late '40s (too many injuries to self and others from kicks, jumps, etc.) "Sophisticated Swing" began to flourish. The real push behind its development cames in the '50s, in the studios of Arthur Murray! This man spent lavishly on Research & Development. He can be credited with the first codificatons of West Coast Swing, and its next name of Western Swing. The followers "walk forward" at the beginning of patterns was standardised in his studios. Where did this "walk forward" derive from? Swing-era leaders infatuated with the "Whip" move, with its follower "walk-walk" (instead of a rock-step) probably helped evolve an entire genre. And followers, if a leader pulls you forward while you are trying to rock back, guess which way you are going to end up going?
Dean Collins: A breathtaking dancer, brilliant choreographer, and clever adapter of dance styles. Without him, where would West Coast Swing be? At the very least, he certainly popularized the "slotted Lindy" approach, and an exploration of the smoother style. Did he create it? Did he see it elsewhere and adapt it? Strangely, he denied any connection of himself with West Coast Swing! His classic refusal to discuss swing history was, "It's all swing!"
Skippy Blair: After her years of teaching under Arthur Murray in the '50s, Skippy became extremely influential in the teaching and development of West Coast Swing. The USA's top performers and competitors study with her to this day. Skippy observed that only 1 in 500 dancers has that natural quality that "simply takes your breath away." Why? Her continued reflection and analysis of this topic has led her into the very marrow of dance technique. She has develped teaching methods that have enlightened not only the top few of the dance elite, but even the least talented, on whom most instructors would prefer to simply give up.
The name "Western Swing" was being used by Arthur Murray for the dance. That Skippy changed it to West Coast Swing is the least of her achievements. Did she invent the term? It is kind of logical to distinguish styles being done one the East Coast with styles being done on the West Coast! Did others come up with the term independently, each claiming to invent it? Probably. Who discovered fire? But Skippy certainly was a major force in popularizing the new name.
Music: By the '50s Rhythm & Blues had become the standard WCS dance music. However, '50s R&B sure wasn't like it is today! It's a lot heavierand harder nowadays. Additionally, plenty of WCS dancers still enjoy smooth swing to music that others might use for Fox Trot. 112 - 120 bpm is optimal. Yet, for some, things really heat up at 90 -100 bpm: "sleaze music." In the post-disco era, "groove dancers" thrive on funky non-swing 120-ish bpm disco. Disgusted beginners (and others?) retort, "This isn't swing!." Yet, many of the best WCS dancers today evolved from the disco era, and really dig disco grooves for WCS. And it is incredible to watch them: do they get turned on! Accomplished dancers also relish occaisional faster grooves: 140 - 150 bpm. At this point, beginners accost the DJ that "this is not appropriated music for WCS."
Funk: In reply to conservatives, the "funk & groove" WCS dancers are certainly closer to the spirit of original swing dance than one might think. Why? Original Lindy Hop is simply this: Partnered-Jazz Dance . Lots of full body exploratory rhythmic movements, waves, twists, etc. All organically created in a partnered context, fueled only by personal and inter-personal interpretations of the music. "Patterns," the European influence, are of minimal importance. "Partnering," also from the European side is of primary importance. Jazz movement, and the valuation of individuality (even outrageous individuality) is the African influence, and of equal primary importance. Hence the term "Partnered Jazz Dance."
Influences: Latin styles and Hustle influenced WCS from the '70s. Beginners seeing Hustle and West Coast Swing often cannot distinguish them. Not surprising, since Hustle dancers tend to Hustle-ize WCS. Check it out: is the lady getting space to play during, and at the end of of passes? Is play with the connection part of the dance? Is there breathing space and pauses, or just non-stop move after move? Do you see Jazz movement and complex footwork, or ballroom posturing and unchanging footwork?
Events: At one time California's US Open Swing was the national West Coast Swing BIG EVENT. Seems like Atlanta's Grand Nationals is becoming the big one now. In the East, we've also got some fun West Coast Swing events: Boston Tea Party, and Summer Hummer.
Thanks to Skippy Blair, Buddy Schwimmer, Jonathan Bixby, Dan Metzrich, and Bill Cameron, Sonny Watson, and others who don't wish to be named, for helping me get the info to put this page together!
Sonny has the single best web article I have seen on the subject, (find a better one? Let me know!) and although he is a much more experienced cat than me, I include some obvious discrepancies in my article...like the term SOPHISTICATED SWING: it obviously goes back to the '30s - listen to Bunny Berrigan's or Woody Herman's recording of the song!
Definition 2
Definition by
Sonny Watson
--- San Diego, San Francisco and Los Angeles all argue about what city West Coast Swing originated in, however, the Los Angeles, California area tends to win the debate. West Coast Swing is the Official "State dance of Claifornia".
---West Coast Swing originated from a dance called the Savoy Style Lindy, which was done at the Savoy Ballroom in New York in the early 1930's, by a man whose name was Dean Collins, who danced at the Savoy while in New York. Collins came to California in the 1930's to get into the movies and brought with him his version of the "Savoy Style Lindy."
--- Collins, after dancing in Hollywood for a couple years, going to many clubs, dancing and competing got to know some of the other dancers, which have been said too have "not seen that style of swing before, but liked it very much." It was alot different than what they were doing at the time (a kind of whip style swing). When Dean started winning the contests everyone wanted to learn.
--- Collins started teaching "his version" and soon everyone on the West Coast was doing it. Dean finally got his break and started doing Hollywood movies. He brought many swing dancers who he had taught this "new style" with him into the movies. Dean's partner was Jewel McGowen. She was the hottest female swing dancer who had ever "Switched" (swivel back and forth.) They made many movies apart as well as together.
--- During this time the movies billed this dance as "Jitterbug or Rock and Roll." Many soldiers danced this version of swing in W.W. II. The soldiers and U.S.O. took "West Coast Swing" all over the world ... disguised as Jitterbug. Dean past away in the Mid 1980's.
--- If you see an old swing movie scene and the dancers do a "Sugar Push" you are watching them do West Coast Swing which was obviously done to older and faster Big Band or Rock and Roll music than what is used today. (Some dancers still love doing this faster form of West Coast today.) These dancers were not doing the Lindy Hop or Jitterbug!!! (as the music may suggest,) they were doing West Coast Swing.
--- West Coast Swing, which is a strictly slotted (or 3'X6' Rectangle) and has the man dance in place while the lady travels back and forth. This style of swing has some to say that this slot was born out of "Wide Angle Lenses" not having been invented yet! The Directors needed to put the dancers in straight lines to get them all in the camera. However, many swing movies only had "one couple dancing" at a time and many previous movies of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers will show a slot being danced ("for the camera", I believe.) This "Slot" idea was to get the profile of the dancers rather than the backs of the dancers to the camera. If the dancers rotated while dancing it would not have shown the movie-goer much dancing. This "slotted-style" eventually caught on as the norm and STAYED STRICTLY SLOTTED! when West Coast is danced socially.
--- Yet, another story is that because Los Angeles had many small night clubs, the dancers had to squeeze together and thus maintained a "Slotted type movement" to avoid hitting each other. The two above ideas merging together would be the main reason people today dance slotted swing socially. (I support this story very strongly)
--- One of the most famous stories of the time was when Benny Goodman played at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles in the early 1930's. Kids Packed the Palomar and lined up for blocks to see him play. The newspaper reported that they were " Jitterbugging in the Isles." That was the start of the Swing Era and Swing bands, the term Jitterbug and Swing dance for white America. Goodmans next stop was at the Paramount theater in New York, again the newspaper reported that the "Kids were Jitterbugging in the Isles to his music" (every isle I have ever seen was a slot!).
---The footwork theory has been told to me many times by older swing dancers as:
1) The Prostitutes in the dance halls and clubs on the shores of the Pacific Ocean in Long Beach and San Diego California would get get kick-backs of liquor sales which the sailors would purchase. The Prostitutes, knowing the sailors were on "short leaves" (the sailors were warned about their nightly profession) would regularly use the dance and drink idea. The sailors would get drunk on their leave, and these "Ladies" would dance with them, as they got drunker, the sailors couldn't dance so well, so these "Ladies" would just hold on and sexy wiggle and do sexy footwork at the end of the slot till he was ready to spend the remainder of his money behind closed doors, then they would go upstairs for ... Well, that's enuff! … You get the idea ... he-he!
2) Latin music was being born in the states and was becoming very popular. As the dancers learned Latin movement they would incorporate it into West Coast Swing. The ladies and "Pachuco's" would do what is today known as a Latin West Coast Swing to slower sexier Latin type music and incorporate Latin body and footwork movements into the dance. Since the Cha-Cha and the Whip are the same 8 count, it was simple to add this style of movement. During W.W.II, many men were in the service and many of the "Hot Clubs" were no longer hopping. However many of the Latin places were booming with all kinds of dancers and music. This gives rise to why West Coast dancers love to West Coast to Cha-Cha based music as well as the slower tempo for West Coast Swing being preferred to faster music. 110-140 b.p.m. is great for syncopation's and the body movements we see today with a preffered tempo of 120-130 bpm's. Even the Lindy dancers are preferring the slower tempo of West Coast Swing.
--- In one of Arthur Murray's dance books in the mid 1940's (my book's in storage), Murray describes a dance called "Rock and Roll dancing." It names the "Under Arm Pass, The Whip and The Sugar-Push." The Ladies are told to take " Two Walk Steps Forward " on counts 1-2 towards the man (and not away) and describes the "Coaster Step" and "Anchor step" very clearly. Later he would call this style of Western Swing "Sophisticated Swing."
--- The "Switches" (right & left motion or switch back and forth for the ladies) commonly done in Lindy eventually gave way to a not so simple Walk-Walk on counts 1-2, and the Coaster Step replaced the Shuffle in the Lindy Circle and Swing Out (which makes it a Whip) on 3&4. All the patterns began to "Anchor Step" (inplace) at the end of every pattern. Add the Sugar Push from the "Sugar Foot" step and a little better posture and the rest basically remains the same. West Coast Swing and Hollywood Style, do not use any of the Charleston movement or patterns that the earlier Lindy Hop used.
--- Flying Lindy (Leg Flying Movement) and Double Shuffle Speed Swing (delayed single rhythm) are two main components of dancing West Coast Swing to fast or Boogie Woogie music and are geared more toward this style of West Coast Swing. Aerials done in West Coast are competition only and are not part of the social structure of this dance however it is still a big part of the Hollywood style, but mainly for competition/ exhibition purposes only. The West Coasters only use Aerials in the "Showcase" division during competition, some do them very well, with most of the West Coasters unable to do a good showcase routine, opting for the "Classic" division instead.
--- In the 1940's Ms. Laurie' Haile (d.) was hired by Mr. Murray to document the dances set in Murray's curriculum and the current dances being done around town. This was no easy task, but she did it beautifully. She knew Dean Collins and some of the other dancers and documented what they, and the Sailors in San Diego and Long Beach were doing at the time. She called it "Western Swing" which is were we get the name "West Coast Swing." However, the term Western Swing as opposed to Eastern Swing would later be confused as Country Western Swing because of the western part in the name and Country-Western Swing was not West Coast Swing by any means. This was right about the time of Murray's book (above.)
---Myrna Myron of Myron's Ballroom in Los Angeles, California coined the term "Sophisticated Swing" in a conversation to Arthur Murray describing what she saw being done around Los Angeles in the 1950's. West Coast did not look like the reckless abandon of the previous swingers and looked much more polished and stylish. Murray used this term quite frequently to describe West Coast Swing.
---American Bandstand introduced a dance called the "Slop" which was just another term for West Coast Swing. Historically, the Dance Master's of America were trying to control what people danced and tried every year to create, develop and introduce new dances to the money spending public. When the music would change they would just change the name of some of the dances and re-introduce them to the public. Swing as a dance was the main dance that would be changed or another variation of the same dance was introduced such as "single rhythm" instead of the "triple rhythm" as well as many performers trying to take credit for a new style by giving it a new name.
---The Ballroom community, looking for a much more simple and mild form of swing, invented a much simpler and milder form called "Eastern Swing" (East Coast Swing) in the forties. In Los Angeles, in the 1940's and 50's many teachers would dance West Coast Swing as sort of an enticement. But when the potential student would ask what it was and where they could learn it, they would be told it was East Coast or Jitterbug (as you were only allowed to teach the studio's syllabus) and sign them up. East Coast was much easier to teach and to learn. However, the student would think they were getting one style, but unfortunately was taught THE OTHER (See East Coast.) Many dancer's of the 1950's grew up on East Coast Swing as that was the only style of swing that was allowed to be taught in the dance studio's due to racial factors at the time as well as it being much easier to do.
---During the 1960's Television put dancing on the back burner. Most people did not have to leave their homes for an evenings entertainment as in the past. Televisions were now affordable and almost in everyone's home. Since these couples dancers were not going out and dancing and leading the way, newer dancers did not know what or how to do the dances of the past. In walks a dance called the "Twist" and no one had to learn anything, just "twist the night away". Other freeform style dances would follow and a whole generation grew up without partner dancing. However, there were still a small group that did dance and kept it alive, these dancers formed Swing dance clubs and would continue it on.
---Then in the 1970's, Disco became the rage and these Swing Dancers were now dancing to Disco music. These new dancers did not know of the earlier dances and copied some of the Swing and Salsa dancers that they saw. The Hustle is a mix of Latin and Swing. Then a few years later, Country Western music and dancing gained popularity and people were now confusing "Western Swing (WCS)" with country western dancing or Country Western Swing. Many dance teachers decided to call it "West Coast Swing" to vere away from any Country Western association, However, West Coast Swing was used as far back as the 1950's. For a time many Country Western establishments outlawed West Coast Swing being done in the clubs (only a few dancers were doing it at the time) ... as being to Sexy and to much Attitude along with stating it NOT being Country. However after awhile everyone wanted to do it except for the die hard c/w dancers who thought they were where it was at.
---West Coast Swing is still evolving. Today, it is not similar to its ancestor - Savoy Style Lindy at all. It does not have a certain dress style, usually just casual dress of the day. However, it does tend to be more modern in clothes. It is not music dependent, (meaning that) IT CAN BE DANCED TO ANY 4/4 time music available. The basic music for West Coast Swing is generally the Blues which, is generally made up of swung eighth's (shuffle rhythm). However many dancers also like dancing to the more up-tempo Funk, Disco, Jazz, Soul, Motown, Beach, Techno, Rap, Pop, Country, Big Band Swing, Retro, and even some Latin. As long as they can count it and feel the "swing" or pulse of the Down and Upbeats and is basically of good rhythmic sound it becomes a song you can dance West Coast Swing to (however it is not swing music).
---When the music (Big Band) died in the 1950's and Rock and Roll music became popular, Swing dancers adapted and swung to Rock and Roll. Then the 1960's came along and the Twist ... again they adapted to the music. Then the Disco beats of the 1970's and they adapted again ... where as today we no longer adapt ... we embrace the new danceable music. "We loved Swing dancing and would do it no matter what music was played". We we're not leaving just because the music changed. Today, these things make it one of the most versatile dances you can learn. Today's dancers tend to like the different rhythms and Syncopations of the different music styles to dance too and play with. West Coaster's generally do not like dancing to live music, as the musicians are usually not versatile enough to play all the different styles of music. Or, they do not want to play other musician's songs we tend to love, but these dancerss do respect all musicians, and we show our appreciation by purchasing CD's and raving about their songs.
---You can basically dance West Coast anywhere, anyplace and at any time with anyone, any way you want to do it. Once you learn the basics, you are never told, that isn't original style-Don't do it! (except on the Rec.Arts.Dance newsgroup) ... Puhleeze! ... their movin' on ... West Coast Swing is a dancers dance, it's a living dance, meaning, that this dance will always change to challenge you, with many dance styles inbred into the dance. There are over 5000 documented patterns and more are added every year. West Coast Swing has added alot of the old hustle patterns (Sw-ustle) as well. Carolina Shag (Sw-ag) footwork is being added to its already extensive list of footwork patterns. The lindy did do this as well by adding the dances of the Charleston, Shimmy, and Black Bottom of DAYS GONE BY (To bad they did not have Hustle, Disco, Lambada, Dirty Dancing, Mambo, Cha, Hip-Hop dances etc. to add to the lindy back in 1927....but that would make it WCS) Best of all, because of the tempo, you can dance West Coast Swing all night long with young and old alike and not have a heart attack.
---A couple of years ago (around 1997), the Retro-swingers started to use an the old term called "Hollywood Style Lindy" before they realized it was basically West Coast Swing. They now just call it Hollywood Style. This Hollywood Style Swing was the original form of West Coast Swing, as done by Dean Collins and Jewel McGowen. The term Hollywood Style was coined by Erik and Sylvia Robeson. Many of the old time West Coast Swingers who are still around today have helped them with this "authentic style" which is really very kewl. However, when they try to turn Hollywood into today's West Coast they come up short (however it is workable). The West Coaster has to dance very basic style/steps with the Hollywood Style dancer untill they get the idea, then they rock!. The basic techniques the "Hollywoodite" uses does not support many of today's patterns, Syncopation's and rhythms. Doing it with an older unrefined basic that became way out-dated years ago, except, when done to big band music it becomes the only way to go in West Coast or Hollywood Style.
---Some have become extremely efficient at doing Hollywood Style. I have alot of respect for some of them as they do it very well ... (as I started with Hollywood style and East Coast 20 years ago.) However most just look like they are doing a poorly executed West Coast Swing. Unfortunately they lack the broader understanding of West Coast as done today and have a hard time following syncopation's or other patterns of today's West Coast swing. Plus they do not understand the more complex rhythms of modern music of today, which confuses them in thinking that West Coast is not Swing because it is not done to Big Band music, and in the two years that they have danced, they know what swing is, but as time goes by they will learn, just as we did.
---Because of the music variation West Coast Swingers dance to, this dance is always under attack from the "Purists." However, West Coast Swing is a "Living Dance", meaning it is an old dance form constantly evolving, growing and changing to the music style of the times, (but we will never leave the Blues.) The two main styles of West Coast are "Funky or Contemporary W.C. Swing" and "Classic W.C. Swing." Each style is basically the same, just done to different types of music. Although teenagers are encouraged to try, and some have become fantastic paid performers, dancers, and contestants, this dance unfortunately, is not for kids.
---In competition, West Coast Swing has become a highly technical dance, that is not very friendly to the average competition dancer, in other words, they devour their young!. The competitor needs to put many long hours and money into competition and the rewards are few, (except for the reward of looking so damn good!). On the social side however, it's not near as serious except for being taught like you are a future champion dancer (you could be the next champ-right!) during the dance lessons. When learning this dance, the dancer needs to keep a very open mind to succeed. Plus, there's not a better group of people YOUNG or OLD to be found. Once you learn, you will have many friends for life as well as being able to dance to all kinds of music, anywhere, anytime with anyone.
This info is from Eric and Laura's Site